Local Stories

Fargo, ND – Over 400 people donated blood Tuesday at the United Blood Service Centersin Bismarck, Minot, and Fargo.

Daryl Stensgaard is the Regional Vice President of United Blood Services in Fargo. He says the need for blood donations to help with the emergencies in New York City and Washington D.C. will be on-going as victims need surgeries over the next few days and weeks.

Stensgaard says the New York Blood Center needs O-negative, A-negative, and B-negative.

Bismarck, ND – A plane from Boise, Idaho to Minneapolis was diverted to the Bismarck Airport -- after the FAA ordered planes to land at the nearest airport.

Ernie Hoover from Greenwich, Connecticut was on the flight.

"We did kind of bank to the left and kind of circled around and started to descend and one of the flight attendants walked through the cabin and said that the captain would be making an announcement. He made an announcement that all aircraft nationally were being required to land at the nearest airport."

Fargo, ND – The U.S. Border Patrol is enhancing its coverage of the U.S. and Canadian border in wake of today's attacks on the Pentagon and World trade Center.

Glen Schroeder is the chief patrol agent for the patrol in Grand Forks. Schroeder says agents will be working on a mandatory overtime basis, and all of the patrol's resources will be used to the fullest.

The Grand Forks office of the patrol is responsible for watching 917 miles of the international border between ports of entry in North Dakota Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Bismarck, ND – A group of North Dakotans planning to lobby on the farm bill in Washington, D.C. became part of the horrendous events this morning (Tuesday).Dale Enerson, a farmer from Stanley, says he is part of a North Dakota Farmers Union group that intended to be lobbying on Capitol Hill today.

Bismarck, ND – North Dakota Governor John Hoeven was on his way to Washington, D.C. this morning when the terrorist attack happened.

Hoeven was getting ready to board his connecting flight...when it was canceled. He wanted to return to North Dakota via the state airplane -- but the FAA said "no." So, Hoeven is driving to Fargo -- and will hold a news conference there later this afternoon.

Hoeven is asking people to stay calm...and says extra security precautions are in place...

Fargo, ND – Shopping malls in three Major North Dakota cities closed this morning, following the lead of other across the country.

Fargo's West Acres mall, the state's largest, closed just after 11 a.m. The Columbia Mall in Grand Forks also closed, as did Bismarck's Kirkwood Mall. In Minot, officials of Dakota Square Mall said they were leaving the decision up to individual stores. Employees there are also being allowed to go home if they want to.

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All F-35s fighter jets deployed to the U.S. and its allies have been temporarily grounded following a crash of one of the aircraft in South Carolina last month.

In a statement, the F-35 Joint Program Office said the U.S. and its international partners had suspended flights of the Joint Strike Fighter, also known as the Lightening II, until a fleet-wide inspection of the aircraft's fuel tubes is completed.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi vowed this week to demand President Trump's tax returns if Democrats win control of the House of Representatives next month.

Pelosi, seeking to regain her gavel as House speaker after elections in November, told The San Francisco Chronicle editorial board that the move "is one of the first things we'd do — that's the easiest thing in the world. That's nothing."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has a message for Republican voters who are celebrating the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh: Get to the polls in November if you want more conservatives sitting on judicial benches.

The remains of Matthew Shepard, whose death became an important symbol in the fight against homophobia — and whose name is on a key U.S. hate-crime law — will be interred at Washington National Cathedral later this month.

Shepard's parents say they're "proud and relieved to have a final resting place for Matthew's ashes."

Thursday, October 11 – We preview this month’s episode of “Why” Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life” with host Jack Russell Weinstein, UND professor of philosophy. This month his guest is professor Derek Black as they explore the question, “Is there a right to education and literacy?” ~~~ Dave Thompson joins us a day early for our weekly news chat. ~~~ A Plains Folk essay from Tom Isern titled “The Power of Serving.” ~~~ Sue Balcom’s topic this week is apples. ~~~ Doug and Ashley...